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SOME OLD 
COLONIAL GHURGUES 

IN VIRGINIA 






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Copyright 1907 

by 

James Mann 



Swn? QDlfc GIninntai (Efpirrfpa m 
Utrgtma 

1B^ 3am?a ilamt 



(Numbers of paragraphs correspond with numbers in the lower left-hand 
corner of the respective photographs.) 



1. (§lb (Elfurtlf (Ettmtt, 3ampatottin, Jrottt litem. 

Three hundred years ago the first Protestant church in America 
was built at Jamestown. It was burned within a few months, and 
four others followed it successively. The fourth, the tower of which 
is still standing, was commenced in 1639, an d burned in Bacon's 
rebellion, in 1676, by a torch, it is said, in Bacon's own hand. It 
was rebuilt, but the tower and foundations alone remained when 
the recent restoration was begun. In the church at Jamestown 
occurred the first English marriage in America, John Laydon and 
Anne Burras, 1608; the first baptism, Virginia Laydon, 1609; the 
marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, 1614; and here, in 1619, 
met the first legislative assembly in America. 

2. <®lb (Eljurrt? Qamn, 3mntatarm\, lUar Utem. 

This view shows the old tower just before the restoration of 
the church was begun in 1906. The inner foundation, smaller and 
lower than the other, was only one brick thick, and was probably 
the foundation of the wooden church of 1617-19. It was encased 
in wood for its preservation at the time the photograph was made. 
The outer foundation was no doubt that of the brick church of 
1639. 1° the chancel the excavations disclosed the grave of a knight, 
supposed to be that of Sir George Yeardley, an early Governor of 
the colony, who died at Jamestown in 1627. 



3. 3Iff? iRratorri (£hurrh. 3amcatmun. 

The new church at Jamestown was built upon the foundations 
of the old church of 1639, and every effort was made to reproduce 
the church as it formerly stood, except that the tower was permitted 
to remain in its ruined condition untouched. Even bricks from old 
Colonial ruins were used, and the old lines were faithfully followed. 
The church was restored by the National Society of Colonial Dames 
of America, and was presented by them to the Association for the 
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, by whom it was dedicated 
May 13, 1907, the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the 
colonists at Jamestown, and of the first religious services conducted 
there by Robert Hunt. 

Old St. Luke's, of which doubtless the Jamestown church of 
1639 was almost the exact counterpart, is the oldest Protestant 
church, and, in fact, the oldest building of English construction in 
America. Built in 1632, it has suffered no material change since it 
was first erected, and is still in a most excellent state of preserva- 
tion. It contains many very beautiful windows, memorials to John 
Smith, Pocahontas, John Rolfe, Sir Walter Raleigh, Robert Hunt, 
Alexander Whittaker, James Blair, Bishops Madison, Moore, Meade 
and Johns, George Washington, Robert E. Lee and others. 

5. IRmhant's ^apt, Pnnre (&eav$t (Cnmtig. 

This old church, which was built in 1657, and is the second 
oldest church building now standing in Virginia, is situated in Prince 
George county, about fifteen miles east of Petersburg. It is not far 
distant from Upper and Lower Brandon, which were situated in 
the same parish in Colonial days. Merchant's Hope was long in 
disuse, but has been restored, and the worshippers now gather there 
at intervals. 



fi. Srutott Partalj Ollfurrh, WUltatnaburg. 

Bruton Parish Church was built in 1710, and is the oldest 
church in continuous use in the United States. It was more inti- 
mately associated with Colonial history than any other building in 
Virginia. Five Presidents of the United States — Washington, Jef- 
ferson, Madison, Monroe and Tyler — worshipped there, as did also 
all of the Colonial Governors and the members of the House of 
Burgesses for three-quarters of a century. It contains many most 
interesting relics, among them the Jamestown baptismal font and 
communion service. It has been beautifully restored through the 
efforts of Rev. W. A. R. Goodwin, the present rector, and on Octo- 
ber 5, 1907, in the presence of a most distinguished company, it 
was dedicated by the Bishop of London. At the same time a lec- 
tern, the gift of President Roosevelt, and a Bible, the gift of King 
Edward, were presented. This photograph was made on the day 
of the dedication. 

r. &t. Paitl'a. Norfolk. 

St. Paul's was erected in 1739. Its large churchyard, filled 
with quaint old tombs, is in the heart of the city, and with its green 
shrubs and magnolia trees presents a scene of peacefulness and rest 
amidst its busy surroundings. When Lord Dunmore, enraged be- 
cause of his defeat at Great Bridge, fired on Norfolk, New Year's 
Day, 1776, a cannon ball lodged in the side of the church, where it 
can still be seen amid the ivy which covers the walls. The chair in 
which John Hancock sat when he signed the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence is a relic of great interest which is owned by St. Paul's 
and is kept in the vestry room. 

B. &t 3al|n'a, ^ampinn. 

Hampton, the oldest existing English settlement in America, is 
the site of one of Virginia's most interesting churches. Old St. 



John's was erected in 1727, and is the successor of a church built 
about 1 6 10. In its keeping and in constant use are a chalice and 
paten given by Mrs. Mary Robinson, of London, in 1618. They 
have been in longer use than any other English church vessels in 
America. It is of interest to note that the oldest free school in this 
country still exists in this parish, without a break in its history since 
the year 1634. 

9. ^oraijmttaa ffflrmnnal muttam. 

This beautiful window is in Old St. John's, Hampton, and 
represents the baptism of the famous Indian Princess, the first 
native convert to Christianity in Virginia. The funds with which 
this window was erected were contributed in part by the Indian 
girls at the Hampton Normal School. 

ID. IBlan&forti fllhurctj, tyttnabuvQ. 

Old Bland ford was erected in 1735, and was the principal 
church in Bristol Parish, which was established in 1642. It is now 
used as a Confederate memorial chapel, with memorial windows 
representing each of the Confederate States. The church is partly 
covered with ivy, and presents a most ancient and interesting 
appearance. John Randolph, of Roanoke, once worshipped here. 

11. 3lttt*rtor JBIan&fnrii <&l\vuctt\. 

This photograph was recently made, and shows the interior of 
the church as it has been restored, with its old colonial pulpit. It 
was on the wall in old Bland ford that the famous anonymous verses 
were written, commencing: 

Thou art crumbling to the dust, old pile ; 
Thou art hastening to thy fall ; 
And 'round thee in thy loneliness 
Clings the ivy to thy wall. 



The worshippers are scattered now 
Who knelt before thy shrine, 
And silence reigns where anthems rose 
In days of "Auld Lang Syne." 

12. (Elfrtflt (Ehurrh, Alrxanhria. 

Christ Church was completed in 1773. The architect was 
James Wren, a descendant, it is said, of Sir Christopher Wren, the 
architect of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. On February 27, 1773, 
the pew then known as No. 5 was assigned to Colonel George Wash- 
ington, for which he paid £36 10s. After the service one Sunday 
morning, in the summer of 1774, in the shadow of this church, and 
surrounded by prominent members of the congregation, Washington 
advocated withdrawing allegiance from King George. In 1853 
Robert E. Lee was confirmed in Old Christ Church by Bishop 
Jones; and here, in 1861, he agreed to take command of the Vir- 
ginia forces. 

13. <3lb goljtrk (Elfurrlr, Fairfax OJmmtH. 

"Old Pohick," as it is affectionately called, was erected in 1769 
upon a location selected by George Washington, and in accordance 
with plans prepared by him. The Building Committee consisted of 
George Washington, George William Fairfax, George Mason, Daniel 
McCarty and Edward Payne. Old Pohick is familiarly known as 
the Parish Church of Mount Vernon, and shares with Old Christ 
Church, at Alexandria, and Falls Church, the honor of being inti- 
mately associated with the religious life and worship of George 
Washington. It was also the parish church of George Mason, 
author of the Bill of Rights and Constitution of Virginia, whose 
home, Gunston Hall, was not far distant. 

14. (§ib 3FaUa ©Ifurrli, Fairfax (tattta. 

Falls Church was built about 1734, enlarged in 1750. and re- 
built as it now is in 1767. It was in old Truro Parish, near the 



Falls of the Potomac. Among its vestrymen were Captain Augus- 
tine Washington, George Washington, George William Fairfax and 
Captain Henry Fairfax, of Mexican War fame. In its yard a por- 
tion of Braddock's ill-starred army is said to have once encamped. 
The present building was used during the Revolution as a recruit- 
ing headquarters by the Continentals. 

15. fci. 3nhuB, iJirhmmuY 

St. John's is the only one of the old Virginia churches now 
remaining which was built of wood. It stands on Church Hill, 
overlooking the city, and was erected in 1739 upon land donated by 
Colonel William Byrd, of Westover, the founder of Richmond. 
Here, May 20, 1715, met Virginia's most famous convention, in 
which Patrick Henry made the stirring declaration : "I know not 
what others may do ; but, as for me, give me liberty or give me 
death." 

16. (Srarr (Hljurrh, tfurktnrou. 

On a commanding elevation, about three hundred feet back 
from York River, stands Grace Church, which was built about 1697. 
Cornwallis utilized it in 1781 as a magazine, and devastated its 
interior. Tradition says that the bell of this church was the gift of 
Queen Anne. When the church was partially burned, in 1815, the 
bell was broken and the fragments were placed in the vestry room. 
During the Civil War the old bell was removed and ordered to be 
made into bullets, but this was not done, and after the war the 
fragments were found in Philadelphia by Bishop Nicholson, who, 
being attracted by the words "Yorktown, Virginia, 1725," wrote to 
discover the history of the bell. It was recast, and in 1889 was 
returned to Grace Church, where, after a silence of seventy-four 
years, it again peals out its summons to the worshippers. 



17. lEaatrrn &t|or* (Cljaud. 

Eastern Shore Chapel was built in 1754, and was the successor 
of two wooden churches which had stood on the same spot., the first 
having been built about 1725. The chapel is located in Princess 
Anne county, about fifteen miles from Norfolk. Cape Henry, where 
the colonists first landed and planted a cross, April 26, 1607, is in 
the same parish as this chapel, and only a few miles distant. 

IB. £>t. Unljtt'H, Natta*ttt0tti» (Enutttg. 

The present St. John's, better known as "Chuckatuck," was 
built in 1755, upon the site of a more ancient church built many 
years before. Chuckatuck Parish became famous because of the 
refusal of its vestry to obey the order of Governor Nicholson to 
"present its minister for induction," insisting upon its right to select 
the minister it should "entertain." 

19. (§ib (gUbr aHfurrtj, Nanartttmrt (tftmnta. 

The Glebe Church is across the Nansemond River from St. 
John's, in the same parish, and not far distant. It was built in 1738. 
This parish is one of the few in the State which holds the original 
glebe lands that were held prior to the act of disestablishment, which 
was passed soon after the Revolution. 



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